Molalla River-Table Rock Recreation Area Management Plan

1. Molalla River-Table RockRecreation Area Management Plan Bureau of Land Management, Salem District October 23, 2009

2. Presentation Outline • Intro and Background • Timeline and Planning Process • Management Themes and Alternatives • Next Steps • Discussion

3. BLM’s land base • 43,067 acres in Upper Molalla watershed (33% of watershed) • 11,875designated as “Special Recreation Management Area” • 5,700 acres included in Table Rock Wilderness

4. Background • Molalla River Exchange • 1992 land exchange • Corporate concerns over dumping, vandalism, etc • 12 miles of riverfront property below Glen Avon Bridge • Foundation of ‘Recreation Corridor’ • Table Rock Wilderness • Designated in 1984 • Last contiguous piece of pristine forest in the watershed • Plan completed in 1987 continues to guide management, established current trail system • BLM Management • Staff come from Wildwood Recreation Site with assistance from Salem District Office • Two volunteer host couples stationed at Molalla maintenance shop • BLM law enforcement with help from Molalla PD and Clackamas County

5. Background (Visitor data)* • Who the Visitors Are • Over 90% come from NW Oregon • Demographics (ethnicity, education, etc) similar to Clackamas County as a whole • Over 90% come in groups of 2 or more • What they tell us • 88% ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ • 75% report being ‘very attached’ to Molalla-Table Rock area • Recreational impacts rated as minimal concerns • Only 13% report feeling crowded • * Visitor data comes from 2007 Arizona State University Visitor Survey

6. Management Plan Purpose and Goals • Purpose • Guide the management of recreation use and resources • Guide the function and design of specific projects • Identify management actions • Goals • Preserve, protect and manage the Molalla River/Table Rock SRMA for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations • Adaptively manage the SRMA to enhance the area’s recreation opportunities and unique characteristics • Recognize that increased future use will trigger the need for increased levels of management

7. Management Plan Process: Where are we?

8. Alternatives • Each alternative varies based on themes: • Management of overnight use • Management of day use and river access • Shared-Use Trail System and Trailhead Access • Visitor Services and Information

9. Theme: Overnight Use • Identified as major issue • Riverside impacts • Long-term occupancy • Water quality concerns • Public safety • 45 to 50% of users reported camping during their visit • Average stay: 4.5 nights • Current visitors like the status quo • Only 26% expressed interest in developed campground

10. Theme: Day Use Recreation and River Access • Much of day use on the Molalla is river-based • Roughly 70% report swimming during their visit; 22% say it is their primary activity • 7% claim fishing as primary activity (equivalent to shooting) • Less than 1% cite rafting or kayaking as primary activity • Average stay: 5.3 hours • No consistent interest from users for large-scale improvements

11. Theme: Shared Use Trail System and Trailhead Access • 16% of Corridor visitors use the trail system • 10 % cite horseback riding as primary activity • 3 % cite mountain biking as primary activity • 2.5% cite trail hiking as primary activity • 70% ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ • Some concerns with beneficial experience for other groups, trail conditions

12. Theme: Visitor Services and Information • Information that orients visitors to the area • Interpretation that highlights local natural history • Forum for rules and regulations • Moderate level of interest from visitors in more visitor information

13. Alternatives: Overview

14. Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing Management • GOAL • Provide opportunities to engage in dispersed recreation along a forested river corridor with options for camping, swimming, picnicking, angling and trail use in a relatively undeveloped setting. • INTENT • Provide high quality visitor experiences with a continued focus on reducing public safety hazards, dumping and vandalism. Maintain existing facilities and trails. Properly enforce current rules and regulations.

15. Location and # of Sites • Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing Management • OVERNIGHT USE • 17 designated, dispersed sites • No camping outside designated, signed sites • Most are located between river and Molalla Forest Rd • Sites patrolled and cleaned by staff, volunteer hosts

16. Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing Management • OVERNIGHT USE

17. Location and # of Sites • Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing Management • DAY USE RECREATION • Roughly 50 heavily used day use sites 400+ capacity • Established pullouts off of major access routes • Some are signed with rules, regulations • Sites patrolled and cleaned by staff, volunteer hosts

18. Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing Management • TRAIL SYSTEM • 24.6 miles (half closed roads and half singletrack) • Ongoing maintenance of trouble spots • Utilize youth crew labor (Columbia River Youth Corps, Todos Juntos) and volunteers • Access from 5 trailheads (Amanda’s, AmeriCorps, Sandquist/Looney’s, Hardy Creek & Yellow Gate)

19. Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing Management • VISITOR INFORMATION • Entrance sign at start of BLM ownership • Major rules and regulations signage at Americorps TH • Boards for posting seasonal information (fire, angling regs, etc) • Signage at each campsite and most day use sites • Kiosks at Americorps, Sandquist TH, Hardy Creek TH, Ivors Wayside and Turner Bridge • Problems with vandalism

20. Alternative 1: Continuation of Existing Management • IMPLEMENTATION • HOW WOULD THIS BE COMPLETED? • Current staffing and levels of maintenance would be maintained • Two hosts would continue to station out of Molalla Maintenance Shop • Address ongoing problem areas

21. Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities • GOAL • Provide opportunities for dispersed recreation along a forested river corridor with options for riverside camping, swimming, picnicking and trail use. Strategically place amenities to control visitor use and mitigate impacts to sensitive resources. • INTENT • Provide for a high quality visitor experience. Minimize infrastructure development and long term operations and maintenance costs while adequately managing for increased visitor use.

22. Location and # of Sites • Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities • OVERNIGHT USE • Limit camping to 12 designated, dispersed campsites • Close two sites, limit other sites to day use only • Improve rest of campsites • No camping outside designated, signed sites • Sites patrolled and cleaned by staff, volunteer hosts

23. Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities • OVERNIGHT USE

24. Location and # of Sites • Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities • DAY USE RECREATION • Select three or four locations for moderate improvement • Site definition • Picnic tables • Better river access • Additional restrooms • Chosen from existing campsites or day use sites • Closure of several highly impacted sites • 45+ sites total 360 user capacity

25. Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities • DAY USE RECREATION Site Definition Improved river access

26. Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities • TRAIL SYSTEM • 24.6 miles, same as Alt 1 • Additional emphasis on fixing problem areas • Re-routing • Closing unauthorized trails • Close Amanda’s and Americorps trailheads and improve others

27. Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities • VISITOR INFORMATION • Slight enhancement to identified day use and trailhead location (additional signage, routefinding) • Continue signage of day use and campsite locations • No new interpretive information would be developed

28. Alternative 2: Enhance Existing Opportunities • IMPLEMENTATION • HOW WOULD THIS BE COMPLETED? • Same levels of staff and host presence • Specific areas improvement selected in final plan • Trail re-routes • Day use enhancements • Campsite closures • Improvements implemented within first two seasons

29. GOAL • Provide a mix of developed overnight recreation and dispersed day use along a forested river corridor. Centralize overnight use in order to minimize resource damage. • INTENT • Address resource damage by limiting dispersed overnight options and increasing levels of management. Expand the visitor base to include those seeking developed yet primitive camping opportunities, while maintaining options for dispersed day use and river access. • Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation Emphasis

30. Location and # of Sites • One centralized developed campground at Pine Creek bridge west of river • No camping allowed outside of CG • On-site host for site management and communications • Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation Emphasis • OVERNIGHT USE

31. Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation Emphasis • OVERNIGHT USE

32. Potential Campground Amenities Visitor Info Tent Pads and Fire rings Entry Signage On-site Host

33. Location and # of Sites • 40+ dispersed day use sites • Closure of inappropriate sites • Some receive minor improvements • Additional restrooms • Picnic tables • Day use-only area of developed campground with 8 to 10 picnic sites • Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation Emphasis • DAY USE RECREATION

34. Same as Alt 1, with ongoing maintenance of 24.6 mile system • Locate a new TH at developed campground, replacing Yellow Gate • Develop a new 1 to 2 mile non-motorized trail adjacent to campground • Identify additional links between day use sites • Looney’s Gate  Hardy Creek TH • Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation Emphasis • TRAIL SYSTEM

35. Same as Alt 2 slight enhancement to existing signage • Continue signing day use locations • Volunteer host within Corridor serves as information source • Campground becomes primary visitor information location • Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation Emphasis • VISITOR INFORMATION

36. HOW WOULD THIS BE COMPLETED? • Phase out campsites over 2 to 3 years as new site is developed • Temporarily less capacity • Recruit and station host at new campground • Utilize volunteers and youth crews to rehabilitate sites • Summer 2009 pilot project • Alternative 3: Overnight Recreation Emphasis • IMPLEMENTATION

37. GOAL • Provide a day use recreation experience that allows for safe, enjoyable river and trail access. Eliminate or reduce impacts and undesirable conditions associated with overnight use while enhancing other activities. • INTENT • Limit recreation options to certain activities and locations that are the most appropriate. Expand the visitor base to those seeking more managed recreation settings. Allow other regional recreation providers to supply overnight opportunities. • Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation Emphasis

38. Location and # of Sites • Camping prohibited within potential Wild and Scenic River boundaries (1/4 mile either side of river) • Allows camping in upland areas and wilderness • All 17 dispersed sites closed to overnight use • Enforced with heavy administrative and law enforcement presence • Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation Emphasis • OVERNIGHT USE

39. Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation Emphasis • OVERNIGHT USE

40. Location and # of Sites • Select three locations for developed day use sites • Looney’s Gate • Sleepy Hollow • Ivor’s Wayside/Sunset • 8 to 10 picnic sites each • Swimming and river access • Visitor info and trailheads • Closure of other day use sites in main corridor area • Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation Emphasis • DAY USE RECREATION

41. Picnic tables • BBQ grills • Shelters • Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation Emphasis • DAY USE RECREATION: Details

42. Identify and correct problems on 24.6 mile system • Develop riverside trails that link developed sites where possible • Extend trail system south to Aquila Vista • 3 to 6 miles new singletrack trail • Improve one developed day use site (Looney’s Gate) as northern hub for trail system • Close Amanda’s and Americorps • Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation Emphasis • TRAIL SYSTEM

43. Development of “Visitor Portal” at first developed day use site (i.e. Looney’s Gate) • Signed as first stop (i.e. “Information 1.5 miles ahead) • Orient visitor to area  maps, background, rules, regulations, activity suggestions • Introduction to area natural history • Identify and sign points of scenic or geologic interest • Narrows section geology interpretation • Improve all existing information kiosks, maps and trail information • Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation Emphasis • VISITOR INFORMATION

44. HOW WOULD THIS BE COMPLETED? • Phased closure and rehabilitation of campsites • Phased closure and development of day use sites • Two hosts would continue to station out of Molalla Maintenance Shop • Ramp up law enforcement and administrative presence to stop overnight use • Alternative 4: Day Use Recreation Emphasis • IMPLEMENTATION

45. Management Plan Process: Where do we go from here?

46. Questions?